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Hot Property: New owners will be fired up
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Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
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A shiny red firetruck will be included in this Ocean View home’s sale.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - If you have spent any time walking around San Francisco, you have seen the “big red shiny Mack fire engine” and its exuberant co-pilots, Robert and Marilyn Katzman.
The Katzmans operate San Francisco Fire Engine Tours and Adventures, using a faithfully restored 1896 firehouse as their home base. Now, with the Katzmans edging cautiously toward a Hawaiian retirement, the firehouse is for sale.
The home of SFFD Engine Company No. 33 is located in San Francisco’s Ocean View district and was in operation until 1974. Robert and Marilyn bought the then-dilapidated firehouse at a city auction in 1977 and set about restoring it, becoming avid collectors of firefighter memorabilia along the way.
“They restored it very authentically,” says Jack McCloskey of Time Realty, a longtime friend of the couple and now the listing agent for their property. “They still have the lockers in the dormitory.”
In 1998, after storing a friend’s vintage fire engine at their home, the Katzmans came upon the idea to lead San Francisco tours from the open-air bed of a 1955 Mack fire engine.
Since then, the Katzmans and their firehouse home have been featured on HGTV’s “The Good Life,” the Travel Channel, the Discovery Channel, KPIX’s Evening Magazine and many programs outside the U.S.
The plan now is to continue running the business until the firehouse is sold. At that time, the Katzmans will move to the property they own in Hawaii.
“They won’t admit to retiring, but that’s what’s happening,” McCloskey says.
When that happens, San Francisco will lose two of its newer icons. After all, who besides Marilyn Katzman, a “lifelong hoofer,” has tap-danced on top of the Golden Gate Bridge’s South Tower?
For sale is not just a firehouse but also a “big red shiny Mack fire engine,” as the Katzmans’ song goes, and a thriving business.
“It’s going to take someone unique,” McCloskey says. “Someone to say, ‘this is a good business.’”
WHERE: San Francisco
ASKING PRICE: $3,300,000
PROPERTY TAX: $42,900*
THE PROPERTY: Completely restored and intact 1896 Victorian firehouse with 2 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, plus successful tour business.
NOTABLE: Has been functioning as home base for San Francisco Fire Engine tours; price includes fixtures, furniture, equipment, 1955 Mack fire engine and tour
business.
AGENT: John McCloskey, Time Realty, (650) 992-9139.
* Estimate based on 1.3% of asking price.
OTHER HOT PROPERTIES
Where: San Francisco
Asking Price: $1,894,000
Property Tax: $24,622*
The Property: 4 bedroom, 3½ bathroom tudor-style St. Francis Wood home; remodeled kitchen and eating area; ocean views.
Notable: Former residence of architect Thomas Kent, landscaped garden and flat yard; beautiful period details throughout; three floors of living space.
Agent: Mary Toboni, McGuire Real Estate, (415) 351-4680
Where: Redwood City
Asking Price: $1,899,000
Property Tax: $42,900*
The Property: New construction in exclusive Emerald Hills neighborhood. Spanish-Mediterranean style home includes 4 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, family room, formal dining room and breakfast room.
Notable: One of four new homes in private cul-de-sac; high-end finishes and attention to detail includes moldings, hardwood floors, soaking tub. Proximity to Emerald Hills shopping center.
Agents: Jane Fletcher, Re/Max Today, (650) 629-8156.
VACATION HOME
Where: Fort Bragg
Asking Price: $1,750,000
Property Tax: $22,750*
The Property: 155,704 square feet of flat, usable isolated coastal property; includes a rustic 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom home.
Notable: Recently reduced from $2.3 million. Ocean view and easy access.
Agents: Greg Menken, Re/Max Shoreline Properties, (707) 964-1888.
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:23 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 15, 2008 re: "Hot Property: A home suitable for a lifetime of memories"
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2:37 PM MST on Sat., Oct. 27, 2007
re: "Hot property: Built for a family that never came"
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Examiner Reader said:
it's good for someone to have lifetime memories in glen park but like anything else in life, things may not continue to be as rosy. instead of waking up to the smell of a good breakfast and a quiet neighborhood, you smell the smoke of gunfire or voices screaming for murder. such is life in the big city of s.f. humanity character changes and some turn into monsters. and they live right door to you now.
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Examiner Reader said:
for health conscious..seniors..childern , the foggy mist of cool sodium chloride..perhaps laced with some windblown pesticides..offers san francicans..and those with respiratory problems better breathing..outside hyberparic systems..the eco climte flora and fauna are magnificent.breathtaking colors and creative in the match of flowers and vegetables on the wharf..the bay and its sea life and napa valley..are interesting for scientists ..and the hilly of san fran..are aeco walk for health hearts..or jogs.but you must work on frondlier bike reception for all those.great athletes..knowing how to use the gears on some of those spectacular inclines..it's not easy to leavesan francisco one you have been there..and the regions close buy are very magnetic in their appeal..
306 agree | 273 disagree
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